title: Foodborne agents associated with the consumption of aquaculture catfish.
abstract: In the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (Farm Bill) of 2008, Congress amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide that catfish be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). As part of the development of its inspection program, the FSIS conducted an assessment of the food safety risk associated with consuming farm-raised catfish. To thoroughly identify hazards for consideration in the risk assessment, the scientific literature was surveyed for all potential agents that have been linked to illness associated with farm-raised catfish consumption. A review of microbial hazards suggested that Salmonella is the foodborne pathogen most likely to be associated with catfish, but the impact of other pathogens remains unclear. This review also summarizes the current data available on chemical residues in catfish, including pesticides and heavy metals, and any regulatory levels that have been established for these compounds. The current usage of veterinary drugs in aquaculture also is outlined, including information on unapproved usage of drugs in catfish.
authors.affiliation: Risk Assessment Division, Office of Public Health Science, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-3700, USA.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eblen
authors.forename: Chuanfa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000592:standards; D002397:Catfishes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues